Bengaluru, Jul 6: Criminal cases will be registered against private hospitals that refuse treatment to COVID-19 patients, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference here at Vidhana Soudha, he said: "No hospital should refuse to admit patients and if any hospital is found denying treatment criminal cases will be registered against them."
He spoke to media persons after returning from his surprise visit to Jayanagar General Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Chest Hospital responded to the questions regarding private hospitals refusing to treat covid patients.
"The government has come up with 6 different systems for treatment of COVID-19 patients. COVID care centres, government medical colleges, private medical college, government hospitals, corporate hospitals and home isolation with proper facilities and according to government guidelines," the minister added.
Dr Sudhakar gave the statistics of 4 metropolitan cities in the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.
"Bengaluru's and the mortality rate is the lowest at 1.46%. The aim is to increase testing by optimal utilisation of capacity especially in private labs. Once we increase testing, it is natural that the positive cases will also increase," he said.
"So citizens need not panic due to this but should take all precautionary measures. He advised to get tested in the nearest fever clinics as soon as any symptoms like cough, fever etc are found. Guidelines regarding the home isolation will be released soon," the minister said.
He announced that 400 ambulances will be deployed in Bengaluru and 2 each for every ward.
He said that the government recommended patients at private hospitals will be provided with insurance under Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust.
"If private hospitals refuse to admit the patients, call 1912 helpline to get assistance. If admitted in Private hospital voluntarily the treatment cost will be borne by patients as per the rates fixed by the government," Sudhakar said.
He said that the cost of testing at private labs has been capped at Rs 2,200 as per test.
Comments
Dear Sir,
Keep aside all these type of extra expenditure like spending for statues, monuments, pilgrim amnesties etc.
During this period of virus pandamic, please use all these amount for medicines, medical facilities, food and development of the state. We are facing shortage of medical facilites and the people are dying on the road by not getting a bed in the hospital. Please use these amounts for the same. During this Pandemic not even hindu brothers also accept this offer. Leave all vote politics and concentrate to develop the state.
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